"Where are you off to?" Tabitha asked as Valerius took another step up the regal mahogany staircase.
"I was going to get new weapons. Would you care to join me?"
"Ooo," she said suggestively. "I've always been a sucker for a man with lots of weapons. Show me what you got, baby."
She wasn't quite sure if he was amused or not as he waited for her to join him. Tabitha followed him up the stairs, then turned down the long hallway on the right. He led her halfway down before he paused in front of a door and opened it.
Tabitha whistled low as she caught sight of his training room. It was huge, and held a variety of punching bags, mats, and dummies. One in particular looked like it had been seriously abused.
It also wore a bright Hawaiian shirt.
"Is this supposed to be someone we know?" she asked as she noted the stab wounds to the dummy's head.
"I plead the Fifth."
"I take it Otto doesn't participate in your training sessions."
He glanced at the dummy. "I guess you could say that in a way he does."
She shook her head as Valerius headed over to the closet. Inside was an arsenal she was sure the ATF would have some issues with.
"Grenade launcher?"
"EBay," Valerius said. "You can find anything on there."
"Apparently so. Who needs Kell when you have all this?"
He gave her a wicked grin as he strapped a long, lethal blade to his forearm. "What's my lady's choice?"
Tabitha pulled a small crossbow off a hanger on the door. "I've watched one too many Buffy reruns. I'm a crossbow girl all the way."
Valerius stood back while Tabitha picked her weapons. He had to admit that he enjoyed seeing a woman who knew how to take care of herself. She weighed and examined each one carefully with the precision of a pro.
He would never have believed such a thing could be a turn-on and yet his body was already hard for her. It was all he could do not to take her right now in the closet.
Tabitha looked over her shoulder as she caught the sizzling wave from Valerius. His black eyes blazed at her.
He was close to breaking, she could sense it. The fire of his desire reached out to her, igniting her own until she struggled to breathe.
"Here," she said, handing him one of the polished steel stakes.
He stepped back and slid it into his pocket. Before he could comment, the door from the hallway opened to admit Gilbert. "Ms. Devereaux?"
She turned to find the butler nearing her. "Yes?"
"Your room is prepared."
Valerius cleared his throat. "Please make sure it's to your liking before the servants leave."
"Okay," she said, knowing he needed some breathing room. In truth, she did, too. If she didn't get out of this room for a few minutes, they were both going to be naked and sprawling.
Tabitha left the closet to follow Gilbert back down the hall to the other wing. He led her to a room at the end of the hallway, then opened the door.
Tabitha gaped at the palatial room. It was, after all, the very best. She wouldn't expect anything less from Valerius and still the room was awe-inspiring.
It was decorated in dark navy blue and gold. The lush navy duvet was already turned down for her.
Gilbert headed for an intercom, then stopped himself. "I don't suppose there will be anyone here to answer if you call," he said under his breath.